Mary Page Marlowe

Mary Page Marlowe is a play by Tracy Letts. Told out of chronological order, it follows the title character as played by six actresses and one doll. The play premiered in 2016.

The play opens with Mary, aged 40, telling her children that she is divorcing their father and moving from Dayton, Ohio, to Kentucky. Her past is subsequently shown, with Mary in conflict with her own mother. Later in life she deals with the fallout from three DUI (Drunk Under the Influence) convictions. ^[1]

Mary Page Marlowe premiered in April 2016 at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. Mary was played in the original production by Caroline Heffernan (age 12), Annie Munch (19), Carrie Coon (27, 36), Rebecca Spence (40, 44), Laura T. Fisher (50), and Blair Brown (59, 63, 69). In previews the infant Mary was played by three actual babies, but unease among the audience convinced director Anna D. Shapiro that using a doll would be less distracting. ^[2]

Mary Page Marlowe opened Off-Broadway in New York City at the Tony Kiser Theater on July 12, 2018, in a production by the Second Stage Theater. Previews had started on June 19. Lila Neugebauer directed. In this production the title character was played by Brown (age 59,63, and 69), Emma Geer (age 19), Tatiana Maslany (age 27 and 36), Susan Pourfar (age 40 and 44), Mia Sinclair Jenness (age 12), and Kellie Overbey (age 50). ^{[3] [4]} Other members of the cast included Audrey Corsa, ^[5] Grace Gummer, Brian Kerwin, and Gary Wilmes. ^{[6] [7]} The play's run was extended to August 19, running a week longer than originally planned. ^[6]

On July 1st 2025, it was announced that Mary Page Marlowe would have its UK premiere at The Old Vic in London from September 23rd until November 1st, directed by Matthew Warchus and to be presented in-the-round. It was also announced that the titular role would be played by Susan Sarandon (age 59, 63, and 69) and Andrea Riseborough (age 40, 44, and 50). ^{[8] [9]} It was later announced that the titular role would also be played by Rosy McEwen (age 27 and 36), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (age 19), and Alisha Weir (age 12). It was also announced that other members of the cast would include Gilbert Kyem Jnr, Melanie La Barrie, Kingsley Morton, Hugh Quarshie, Ronan Raftery, Paul Thornley, and Lauren Ward. ^[10]

References

1. Rooney, David (July 12, 2018). "'Mary Page Marlowe': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 22, 2018.
2. Jones, Chris (April 11, 2016). "'Mary Page Marlowe' review: An unremarkable life imbued with a writer's love". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 22, 2018.
3. Soloski, Alexis (June 20, 2018). "For 'Mary Page Marlowe,' Six Actresses Share One Role". New York Times (New York ed.). Section AR, Page 9. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
4. Vine, Hannah (July 10, 2018). "First Look at Tracy Letts' Mary Page Marlowe Off-Broadway". Playbill . Retrieved July 22, 2018.
5. Playbill
6. Clement, Olivia (July 19, 2018). "Mary Page Marlowe Extends Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
7. Schuler, Barbara (July 12, 2018). "'Mary Page Marlowe' review: Six actresses, one amazing woman". Newsday . Retrieved July 22, 2018.
8. Milward, Tom (June 30, 2025). "Susan Sarandon and Andrea Riseborough to star in Tracy Letts' Mary Page Marlowe in London" . Retrieved July 4, 2025.
9. "Mary Page Marlowe". Old Vic Theatre. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
10. Wood, Alex (August 14, 2025). "Full cast revealed for Mary Page Marlowe at the Old Vic – with a strong Matilda theme" . Retrieved August 28, 2025.